A very high level of distrust: 83% of owners of very small businesses believe that presidential candidates poorly understand their difficulties

Managers of very small businesses (VSEs) are approaching the 2027 presidential campaign with great distrust towards the political class, believing in the majority that the candidates do not sufficiently take economic issues into account, according to the latest Ifop-Fiducial barometer* published Thursday October 29. 83% judge that the candidates poorly understand the specific issues of VSEs, 79% consider that the parties do not sufficiently address the subjects that concern them and 62% believe that growth is not a major concern of the contenders for the Élysée. In this context, 77% are adopting a wait-and-see attitude towards the political and economic situation, postponing their investment or recruitment projects.

The bosses of VSEs pass a harsh judgment on the government's action. Some 83% consider that the commitments made during Emmanuel Macron's re-election have not been respected and 90% do not trust the economic measures announced by the executive, a record level for this barometer. Discredited parties and parliamentarians Likewise, 90% are pessimistic about the general business climate in France, again a record and a jump of 17 points compared to the previous quarter.

This unease is concomitant with numerous obstacles felt by these companies. Particularly the increase in prices (cited by 84% of the managers questioned), the cost of energy (82%), the weight of administrative procedures (80%), on par with the amount of social security contributions and taxation. These bosses expect candidates to make concrete proposals on purchasing power and wages (52%), taxation (51%) and growth, employment and unemployment (51%).

Among the proposals already on the table, they are in favor of the establishment of a golden rule on the state budget, prohibiting spending more than revenues (at 87%), a support plan for VSE-SMEs (at 83%), or the overall increase in salaries (78%). Local elected officials are those to whom leaders continue to give the most credit (63%), far ahead of political parties (15%) and parliamentarians (22%). *The survey was carried out from September 21 to October 9 among 1.

006 managers of small businesses with fewer than 20 employees.

Machine-translated from French